Mail-bag



(New H. L. BOYLE.

MAIL BAG.

Snow wot Hume? L. Boy/e. @513 hi0 flttomam g Q vitneoaao n, FEYERS. PhakrLithognpher. Wanhinglm n. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

HOMER L. BOYLE, OF GRAND RAPIDS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HORACE B. PECK, OF ALLEGAN, MICHIGAN.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 403,872, dated May 21, 1889.

Application filed January 21, 1889. Serial No. 297,052. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOMER L. BOYLE, a Cltlf zen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bags; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved device for fastening the mouth of mail-bags, pouches, and similar receptacles closed by a flap overlapping the mouth of the same; and the object of my invention is to provide a simple and durable device for securely and quickly iastening said flap over the mouth of such In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a mail-bag embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 00 x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail of the clamping-bars D D. Fig. 4 is a detail of the pivot-plate II. Fig. 5 is a vergoal section of the flap on the line y y of Similar letters of reference refer to corre sponding parts throughout the several figures.

A is a bag having the flap B overlapping and closing the mouth of the same.

0 O are buttons attached to front side of bag for securing the flap.

To the inner face of the flap is secured the lining B, forming a pocket, into which sets the frame F, being secured in position by rivets passing through lining-frame and flap, as shown inFig. 1, thus forming a chamber in which are the clamping-bars D D, arranged to approach and recede from each other for the purpose of engaging the shanks of the buttons when the flap is closed.

In the lining are openings P P, through which pass the heads of the buttons into the chamber, and the bars D may be provided with notches E E, for embracing the shanks of buttons, if desired. The lining B and the frame F may be of leather or other suitable material, and the clamping-bars D of steel or other suitable flexible metal.

G is a hasp, which is pivoted to the flap by the pin N. The pivot-plate H is fastened to the flap underneath the head of the hasp, and has the curved slots L L, through which pass the pins 0 O, rigidly attached to the head of the hasp and loosely secured in the holes 0 O of the bars D, so as to permit them -to rotate therein when the hasp is turned. This arrangement of parts, it will be observed, operates as follows, viz-z hen the flap is closed, the buttons 0 projecting into the chamber formed by the lining, the frame, and the flap, their shanks are exposed to the jaws of the clampingbars D D. Turning the hasp to the right opens the jaws, as shown by dotted line in Fig. 1, and' turning it to the left closes the same, and the shanks of the buttons, being seized between the clamping-bars, are securely held, thus securely fastening down the flap, when it may be locked by the staple I and padlock K, as shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination, with a bag having buttons and a flap having holes adapted to said buttons overlapping its mouth for closing the same, of a pair of parallel clamping-bars arranged connectedly to: said flap, and a hasp pivoted to said flap, connected with said bars, and adapted to open and close said bars for embracing said buttons, substantially as de scribed.

2. In combination with a bag having buttons arranged near its mouth and a flap having a lining having holes adapted to said buttons overlapping its mouth, aframe arranged between said lining and flap, and a pair of parallel clamping-bars arranged conneotedly to said flap, a hasp pivoted to said flap, connected to said bars, and adapted to open and close the same, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a bag having a flap overlapping the month, said flap being pro vided with a lining and with aframe inserted between said lining and flap, forming a chamber, substantially as'described, and having buttons attached to said bag for securing said flap, adapted to pass through openings in said lining into said chamber, substantially as described, and clamping bars arranged in said chamber, adapted to embrace the shanks of said buttons, substantially as described, a hasp pivoted to said flap and connected with the clamping-bars and adapted to open and close said bars, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a bag having buttons attached and a flap having a lining provided with holes adapted to said buttons, overlapping the mouth, and having a frame inserted between said liningand flap, clamping-bars attached to a pivoted hasp adapted to open and close said bars for embracing the buttons and arranged inside of said frame, substantially as described.

'5. In combination with a bag having buttons attached and having a flap provided with a lining having button-holes adapted to said buttons, clamping-bars arranged between the lining and flap, adapted to embrace the buttons and opened and closed by a pivoted hasp attached to said flap and connected with said bars, substantially as described.

6. In a bag provided with buttons arranged near the mouth and having a flap provided with a lining having holes adapted to receive the heads of the buttons, overlapping its mouth, the combination of a frame arranged between said lining and flap, clamping-bars arranged between the lining and flap and inclosed by said frame, and a pivoted hasp attached to said flap, connected with said bars, and adapted to cause the same to approach and recede from each other, substantially as ranged underneath the head thereof, and

pins attached to clamping-bars arranged, secured to said flap, and adapted to close said bars, substantially as described.

8. In a mail-bag having a flap and buttons for securing said flap, arranged substantially as described, the combination, with a pair of clamping-bars having notched edges adapted for closing upon either side of the shanks of said buttons for locking the same, substantially as described, of a hasp pivoted to said flap and provided with pins connecting with said bars for opening and closing the same, and a plate having curved slots adapted to said pins arranged underneath the head of said hasp, substantially as described, and for the purposes herein set forth.

9. In a mail-bag substantially such as described, having a flap overlapping its mouth for closing the same, and buttons for securing said flap, the combination of a lining provided with holes, secured to the under side of said flap, a frame arranged between said lining and flap, a pair of clamping-bars provided with notched edges adapted for inclosing the shanks of said buttons, arranged in said frame, a hasp having a plate provided with curved slots arranged underneath the head thereof, pivoted to said flap, and provided with pins adapted to said curved slots, connected to said bar for opening and closing the same, substantially as described.

v 10. In a mail-bag having a flap having a'lining overlapping its mouth and buttons for securingthe same, substantially as described, the combination of a frame arranged and secured between said lining and fiap,cla1nping-bars- HOMER L. BOYLE.

Witnesses DENNIS L. ROGERS, LUTHER V. MOULTON. 

